Hurricane John grew from a tropical storm to a Category 1 hurricane on Monday afternoon as it churned off the southwestern coast of Mexico. Maximum sustained wind speeds reached 85 miles per hour, threatening the small tourist town of Puerto Escondido, known for its laid-back, surfing vibe.

PUERTO ESCONDIDO, Mexico (Reuters) -Storm John strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane on Monday and is expected to become a major storm before it crashes into Mexico's Pacific coast, according to the U.

Forecasters have issued hurricane watches for parts of Cuba and Mexico as a cluster of storms located south of the Cayman Islands is expected to strengthen in upcoming days as it moves north toward the U.